Written by Cherie Morris, JD, Parent Coordinator and Divorce CoachSo, you’re getting a divorce. You’ve likely contemplated an array of important decisions. It’s essential to be informed about the choices you make during this life transition, even if the divorce isn’t your first choice. To accomplish this, you can consult a legal professional, a financial expert, a divorce coach and parent coordinator, and a therapist too. In addition, you might review primary sources like case law, or secondary resources like what you’ll find here on it’s over easy, which cover many of categories that you’ll most likely be thinking about as you face divorce. If your goal is to save time, money and create the best life going forward for you and your kids, doing your homework is critically important.One important aspect of your divorce is how your kids will spend time with you and your co-parent. This requires, in many jurisdictions, that a Parenting Plan be part of the Divorce Agreement. In other jurisdictions, there is no formal requirement, but it is one of the most important elements of your divorce as it involves your child(ren)’s well-being. Your offspring had both of you before the divorce and you should think rationally about what’s best for them and what is possible for you post-divorce.Divorce through a Child’s EyesIf you have current conflict, based on the divorce, it can be difficult to think clearly about how this looks to your children. It’s a critical mistake, however, not to do so. It’s clear most kids, and most parents, benefit from some form of shared custody. That’s worth repeating: Kids thrive when they spend time with and are cared for by both of their parents, even when both parents live apart after a divorce. It’s not the divorce that hurts kids but the conflict between their parents. https://www.divorcemag.com/blog/child-parent-relationship-after-high-conflict-divorce/So, in addition to sharing parenting time, it’s important to manage the entire process from scheduling to drop-offs and pick-ups so that your children do not feel the conflict that may exist between you and your ex.Legal Custody vs. Physical Custody When we talk about custody, it’s important to remember there are two types: physical custody and legal custody. In general, physical custody refers to the location of the child on the various days of the week; legal custody refers to refers to the responsibilities of making major decisions that affect the child's welfare, including decisions regarding the health, education and religious upbringing of the child. When thinking about a schedule for the kids, you should decide whether you will share physical custody 50/50 or whether there is another shared percentage, per parent, that works for both of you. It is true that 50/50 physical custody is more common now than a decade ago, it may not be the right schedule for you and your co-parent. The percentage of time you have the child may impact the child support you receive or pay.Parenting Time (A.K.A. Visitation Schedule) Considerations:

The age(s) of your child(ren):

Infants and Toddlers: Generally, this age requires more frequent transitions to maintain a relationship with both parents as primary caregivers if that is your goal. An important consideration is whether one parent is breastfeeding or is not working outside of the home to care for the child.

Young children: It’s a good idea to have a consistent routine for young children as they rely on stability and regularity. They are often “fact based” at this age and can, often, adapt to more frequent transitions as long as they understand where they will be and when. They need contact with both parents too and more frequent transitions can help maintain that connection.

Tweens and Teens: Often, at this age, a child has more to manage outside the home, including schoolwork, friendships, sports and extracurricular activities. This means it is often preferable to have a schedule that allows the child to stay for a longer period of time in one household to minimize disruption to their schedule and allow them to “settle in” one home for a period of time. In addition, and based on feedback from families I work with, as kids get older, they want more information. Don’t drag them into the negotiations but do inform them of changes that impact their lives. If the schedule is modified for travel or any other reason, let the child(ren) know. It helps them feel more in control of something they do not ultimately decide and builds trust into a system that asks for their heightened cooperation and organizational skills. For teens, the resilience they can develop is invaluable.

The level of cooperation you and your co-parent can manage: If your relationship with your co-parent is already good, you can likely make almost any schedule work. If it isn’t, and you do not anticipate improvement, you may need to have a schedule with some specificity, for example, choosing a neutral place like the school or an extra-curricular activity, so that picking up and dropping off does not require you to see your co-parent in person. Either way, flexibility is required in both situations to diffuse any tension that may exist between you and your ex. Flexibility also helps to keep the child(ren) out of the conflict too.

Your commitment to keep the schedule, and your willingness and ability to be flexible about it will benefit your child(ren). As you work on this, here are some questions to ask yourselves:

Do you or your co-parent travel for work or other reasons on an unpredictable schedule?

Can you or they accommodate the schedule you want without making it an issue for the kids?

If travel is an issue for one or both of you, it may be necessary to think through a plan before implementing a particular schedule.

Right of First Refusal - would you, or they, have the right of first refusal? For example, if they or you can’t have the kids on one or more of the agreed upon days, would your co-parent have the option to take them? Or, would both of you be expected to have child care in place for these instances? Thinking through the options and making them part of your Parenting Plan is a very good idea.

What Works for UsOnce you’ve factored in all of these elements, it’s time to build a plan that works for you, your co-parent and your child(ren). The options are abundant and may be customized but, if you are sharing 50/50 custody, there are a few common practices that exist for rotating the schedule.For examples of time sharing based on other common physical custody percentages schedules, for example, 60/40, 70/30 and 80/20, visit www.custodyexchange.com.Co-parenting Plans Explained:

The alternating weeks schedule: Your child(ren) spend(s) 1 week with one parent and the next week with the other parent.

2 weeks schedule: Your child(ren) spend(s) 2 weeks with one parent and then 2 weeks with the other parent.

The 3-4-4-3 schedule: Your child(ren) spend(s) 3 days with one parent, 4 days with the other parent, 4 days with the first parent and then 3 days with the other parent

The 2-2-5-5 schedule: Your child(ren) spend(s) 2 days with each parent and then 5 days with each parent.

The 2-2-3 schedule: Your child(ren) spend(s) 2 days with one parent, 2 days with the other parent and 3 days with the first parent. Then, the next week it switches.

The alternating every 2 days schedule: Your child(ren) switch between the parents every 2 days.

As noted previously, it is generally better for only the youngest children to have schedules that rotate every 2 days (or more). As children get older, it may work for them to stay with one parent for longer periods of time.Tweens & TeensOne advantage of the 2-2-5-5 schedule is having your child(ren) consistent days of the week, that is, you will always have Mondays and Tuesdays or Wednesdays and Thursdays, for example, which allow you to schedule particular lessons or events for consistent days that they are with you. The disadvantage is a relatively short time period between transition, so it may be more practical with younger children unless your tweens and teens don’t mind the shuttling around part very much. Nesting Is Not Just for BirdsAll of the schedules we’ve discussed relate to moving the kids from one household to another. A less common but possible option is called “Nesting.” This requires the co-parents to move in and out of the household instead of the child(ren). It requires that you and your co-parent have a particularly high level of regard, respect and trust for each other, even if you live in separate bedrooms of the house. Some co-parents even manage to share one apartment or other dwelling outside of the family home where they live when not in the family home. It isn’t generally a long-term solution and some experts recommend ending the “Nesting” exercise before either parent begins dating. If you think Nesting can work for you and your co-parent, it can be very good for the kids to allow them to stay in one place, at least for a period of time for their adjustment to the new reality. Co-parenting Successfully In addition to the normal schedule, you should also consider how holidays, vacations, and other days off from school will work. This can all be part of your Parenting Agreement. Often, co-parents alternate holidays and days off from school annually or, and this is the important part, in the way that best works for them and their child(ren). The key, again, is a plan that is workable and keeps conflict low(er).The key to a good Parenting Plan is good communication. This doesn’t mean you and your co-parent do not have issues between you. It means you need to be able to discuss issues related to your kids, even when you disagree, and have a method to resolve the disagreement that doesn’t drag your kids into the middle of the conflict. Often, email is a viable way to communicate, we just recommend you keep it brief and courteous. If agreement cannot be achieved after, for example, three rounds of back and forth by email, you can specify, in your Parenting Plan that you see a Parenting Coordinator or Mediator specializing in parental conflict, to get help resolving your disagreements. It’s rare that going to court gets you the kind of decision that is helpful to you and your children. It’s much better to figure these things out yourselves. If that’s not possible, work with a professional who is educated about you and your family, who can help you and your co-parent strategize about finding a solution that works in your particular family. After all, although it now has a different form, a family of divorce is still that: a family. You and your co-parent will be connected, in some form, through your child(ren) forever so figuring out how to navigate that will set a tone that may help you and your child(ren) for many years to come.*Special Thanks to my bonus child, Sophia Truman, 13, for contributing her thoughts about custody schedules for tweens and teens to this article. Click ahead for more information on how to co-parentCherie Morris practices as a Parent Coordinator and Certified Divorce Coach. She is trained as a lawyer, yoga teacher and is also an author, divorced mother of 4 and now part of a blended family. Life is always interesting and challenging.You can find Cherie at:www.DearDivorceCoach.comhttps://www.facebook.com/DearDivorceCoach/https://twitter.com/DearDivorceTeamhttps://www.instagram.com/deardivorcecoach/https://www.pinterest.com/DearDivorceTeam/pins/

Written by Cherie Morris, JD, Parent Coordinator and Divorce Coach​https://www.itsovereasy.com/insights/how-do-i-decide-whether-to-divorce-or-stay-married

Do you wonder, more than occasionally, whether you should stay in your marriage or file for a divorce? Is it more than the unavoidable flash of “anything is better than this” anger that flares up when the house is a mess, the kids are out of control, and your job feels entirely unsatisfying? How do you know how to separate the stresses of life that are inevitable, and arise no matter who your partner is, from those events that suggest you may be better off divorced?How Do You Know When It's the Right Time to Consider DivorceAs with so much of adult life, it’s a leap of faith to stay married or get divorced. And with do it yourself divorce and online divorce now a popular option, it may seem easier than ever. However, if you repeatedly find yourself contemplating whether your partner is the one for you, it’s time to think seriously about the right approach for you.Of course, sometimes the choice isn’t yours to make, and if you’ve found yourself recently told by your spouse that they want a divorce, or they have already left, it may be difficult to think about options. However, it’s still important to understand what you need to know. So, whether you are contemplating divorce or have recently been told you are getting one, there is a common theme, that is, there are common factors to be considered.Do Not Make the Mistake of Burying Your Head in the Sand Once you get the news--either from your own inner voice, or from a "leaning out" spouse--instead of ignoring the situation, use the moment to gather all of your internal and external resources to create a plan. You can pause, for sure, and even take time throughout the process to rage and grieve but doing nothing may leave you in a position that hurts your future.First, have you gotten any help with your marriage?There is, as you know unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, an abundance of ways to work on your marriage. You can seek out a therapist, an LMFT, Psychologist or Psychotherapist who might help. If you’ve gone down the therapy route and it hasn’t worked, it is still important to evaluate whether it’s time to do something different. A divorce coach might be right for you now.What Is a Divorce Coach? A Divorce Coach is someone who can be your objective thinking partner. They are someone who has an understanding of the divorce laws in your area and they're someone you can consult with as you decide whether to stay married or not. A good Divorce Coach has training, and often their own experience of divorce too. They can help you move through every category of consideration for your future. Coaches are different from therapists as Divorce Coaches focus on the practical decisions you need to make as they apply to your dissolution--not on the psychology behind your decisions. If you call a lawyer now, they can help you with the legal stuff but they may not be prepared to help you think about all of the practical matters in divorce, down to the daily decisions and responsibilities you face.The Divorce Coach Exercise to Help You Explore Your Marriage As It Is NowWrite down all of your own regrets in your marriage. An hour or day later, imagine yourself as an an outsider looking in and that you are someone who holds the person whom you're looking in on in great regard. With compassion and care, then read what you have written and ask whether you can honestly say it is better to move away from the marriage than attempt to bring it back to what it may have been in better days.As you immerse yourself in this exercise, can you use this moment of reflection to openly accept your own mistakes, gently, and let go of any defensiveness you have about them? Is it possible, even now, to approach your spouse with a new awareness or even change in your own behavior? If you and your spouse can still answer affirmatively, there is more work to be done on the marriage. An online divorce and doing it yourself is less expensive than hiring attorneys, but no matter how you do it, ending a major relationship can be one of the most difficult things a person ever goes through, so I suggest to people I counsel to invest the time in trying to fix a marriage before they take the steps to end it. Don’t skip this step as it’s an important one.As you consider whether you have done all the work possible to save your marriage, you should also begin contemplating the practical side of divorce. You need to visualize yourself after divorce so you have an idea of how things might look after you've started the divorce process and dissolved your marriage. Here Are the 6 Things to Consider As You Decide to Get Divorced

Your finances:

Do you know them?

Do you know where your money is and your spouse’s too?

Do you know what’s considered marital property and what’s not?

Do you know your expenses and debts?

Your children:

How does a separation affect them?

Where will they live?

How much support will you pay or receive?

What are their ages and how does their stage of development and/or special needs impact what occurs.

Can you learn to co-parent with your spouse?

Your retirement:

Have you and/or your spouse saved for retirement?

How will it look if you divorce?

Your career:

Have you been working outside of the home?

If not, will you get spousal support and for how long?

If you have a career already, or are returning to one, how will the children be cared for in your absence?

Your health and healthcare:

Do you, your spouse or children have health challenges?

How will they be impacted by the divorce?

Who provides the healthcare coverage you currently have?

How will that change in divorce?

Your friends and family:

Do you have strong bonds with family and friends that will bear the strain of separation and divorce?

Are you prepared to lose friendships because some people cannot manage your divorce when their own marriages are fragile or their own worldviews of what’s possible are limited?

Are you willing and able to forge new friendships and connections at this stage of life?

Do you have support outside of family and friends so you do not strain those relationships beyond repair?

If you can contemplate each of these important areas of your life and understand how your life and the lives of your children, if any, will also look if you stay married and if you divorce, you will be able to move toward a decision that is based on more than how you feel in this moment. You can begin to plan for a future that envisions staying with a spouse who may be less than ideal but satisfies your needs in areas that are important now. Or, you can take steps to leave your marriage with careful planning, contemplating each of the above questions and categories to create a future that’s right for you.If you need help answering questions in these categories, consider working with a Divorce Coach to begin the process. A Divorce Coach is educated about the divorce process and is an objective thinking partner who can help you with resources you need to succeed in this process. Your Coach is never tired of your questions or exhausted by your needs. They are standing right beside you from the beginning to the end of the process to make certain you are thinking about every detail you should consider and connecting you with divorce professionals, as needed, in each category.They can help you communicate better for successful co-parenting with your spouse too.In addition to coaching, many Divorce Coaches also have expertise as a Parent Coordinator who can help you alone, or you and your soon-to-be-former-spouse to create a parenting and communication plan that is as unique as your family is to you. A Parent Coordinator is trained, as a lawyer and/or therapist, and in tune with the developmental needs of kids at every stage. They have training in conflict resolution and can teach you how to negotiate with your co-parent, or even with your child, as needed, to make the best decisions for you and them.

It’s a rare divorce that doesn’t have some long-simmering anger and tension behind it. For most couples, arguments build up and soon enough, you’re one fight away from throwing up your hands and shouting, “I’ve had enough!”

Recently, we asked divorced writers to share the one fight they consider the last straw in their marriages. See what they had to say below.

The Fight About Therapy

Our last fight occurred during marital counseling. Four years later, the topic is both hazy and generally meaningless; what has stuck with me to this day is how the impasse felt so overwhelming in the moment. It was almost as if I had an out-of-body experience, witnessing us both remaining so stubborn: He was frustrated by my impassioned display in front of a third party. I was disgusted by his refusal to try to see my point of view. We reached this pinnacle and could never recover from it, simply because, in the midst of the fight, our verbal and nonverbal cues indicated we lacked any and all respect for one another. The love was gone, and a mere tolerance for one another was only hanging by a thread. For me, the fight was so metaphorical. Hitting our most hopeless point in five years of marriage, while in the company of one of the city’s most renowned marriage counselors, was both ironic and striking.” ― Nicole Lavery

The Fight About Lunch

Money had always been a hot-button issue between my ex and I. She stayed at home with the kids while I worked. What I could not seem to understand was how such a predictable schedule could be so unpredictably expensive. From my midtown office, I could feel our credit card getting heavier with every passing day. We fought about it a lot. It seems so immature in hindsight, but it was the tug finally unraveling a seven-year marriage. ‘How can a lunch for one be that expensive?’ I asked one day. It was not just for her, she also paid for a friend, she said. ‘Who was it?’ I asked. ‘A friend, does it matter?’ That is when I lost it. The conversation quickly disintegrated into accusations and threats, which abruptly ended with us bringing up divorce. She then grabbed her keys, purse and headed out the driveway. The next four months would be a whirlwind of attorney visits, legal briefs, court dates and a few failed attempts to reconcile. If you’re wondering, I finally learned the identity of the ‘friend.’ Sometime later, my kids were talking about mom’s boyfriend’s birthday dinner. I asked where they ate. ‘His favorite restaurant of all time,’ they said. I discovered the truth there: I had an old credit card receipt to prove it.” ― Kyle B.

The Fight About Paris

The Louvre was closed; somehow, that became my fault. I was supposed to look up the hours and had gotten them wrong. My husband and I were in Paris for a long weekend and since he had never been there, he had a list of sights he had to see. Each day felt like a scavenger hunt designed to collect points for some mysterious game I didn’t want to be playing. By the end of the first day, I had blisters on my feet. I wanted to relax in a cafe, sip espresso and people-watch all day. But my husband didn’t drink coffee. And once it was clear he was going to miss the Louvre, he became more inflexible about his list. I followed him from one neighborhood to another, trying to ignore the realization that, after 10 years of marriage, we no longer enjoyed the same things. It was less of an argument, just a sense that there was no ‘us.’ And when you’re in a foreign country, not to mention the most romantic city in the world, that’s a very lonely feeling.” ― Tammy Letherer, author of The Buddha at My Table

The Fight About The Phone

The last big fight in my marriage was about my phone. My husband took it and kept it because it was taking time away from him. I was furious. My whole life was in that phone, of course, and it’s how our kids communicated with me, too. I think, although it was just a phone, it represented something much bigger to me. I could no longer tolerate the attempt to control me in so many ways. I am an educated adult woman who was many things: a wife, mother, worker, lover. It became clear, in that instant, that my husband’s insecurity about our attachment and my disinterest in constantly reassuring him about it would end our 18-year marriage. It’s terribly sad, and there was so much loss on many fronts for us and our children, but when married people don’t grow together, it’s very hard to reconnect, no matter how hard you try.” ―Cherie Morris

The Fight They’d Had 50 Times Before​The last big fight we had before we decided to separate was the same fight we had 50 times before that. We went over the same things as always: ‘I’m always with these kids.’ ‘I am the only one bringing in an income.’ ‘You don’t appreciate me.’ ‘You don’t respect me.’ ‘You’ve changed.’ ‘We have nothing in common anymore.’ ‘Are you cheating on me?’ The problem with our marriage was that we didn’t know how to communicate effectively and we both decided to check out. There was no trust and definitely no respect. The 7-year marriage never had a chance, in my opinion, because it seemed hopeless. There were just too many issues and an unwillingness to get help, both individually and as a couple. I mean real help. We tried marriage counseling, but it touched the tip of the iceberg and I think we both felt it was better to cut our losses early.” ―Jackie Pilossoph, author of the column “Love Essentially,” published in the Chicago Tribune

The Fight About The Blended FamilyMy wife and I were lying in bed, ready to sleep, when I told her I was going to say goodnight to ‘my girls.’ We were a blended family and my three daughters were all sleeping that night in the same room. When I returned, my wife asked me if I also said goodnight to my oldest daughter, which I responded, ‘Of course I did.’ She screamed at me, ‘If you said goodnight to the oldest, then I am done with you.’ She stormed out of the room to go sleep in another room on the first floor. I knew I couldn’t allow her bad treatment of my oldest daughter, and her treatment of me regarding it, to continue. I knew this last episode was the final straw in many years of unacceptable behavior.” ― Matt Sweetwood, author of Leader of the Pack

The Fight About SpendingMy last fight with my ex-husband wasn’t original. It was one we had over and over again: about money. He liked to gamble, lease a car we couldn’t really afford and emulate success through spending. I’m a saver and come from a poor background, and so we could just never relate to each other on finances. Anyone who’s divorced knows that it doesn’t happen overnight and that the fights you have, in most cases, you’ve had over and over again. Money is too important a part of marriage to have completely opposite viewpoints on. And so, just like that, I knew our nearly three-year marriage was over at least six to 12 months before I left.” ― Susie Moore

The Fight About Discipline During what seemed like a picture-perfect evening, my husband and our two young children sat around the dinner table to share a meal. The kids were enjoying having their daddy home and I was enjoying watching all of them together. Our daughter wanted down, and like most toddlers, she squirmed and twisted until she was able to free herself. Her chair and her plate of food plopped down right along with her. My husband instantly stood up and yelled at our two-year-old, followed by a swift swat. She burst into tears. At first, I was stunned, unable to move. There was a glimmer of a moment when it first happened that I thought he was going to console her and tell her that it was going to be OK. He didn’t. It wasn’t long before the old familiar knot tightened in the pit of my stomach.If I was honest with myself, I really wasn’t surprised by his reaction. From day one, we had very different ideas about how we would discipline our children. As I was comforting our daughter, I could hear him say, ‘Spare the rod, spoil the child.’ It wasn’t the first time he had yelled at the kids, and I at him for doing so. But that night, that fight, was the last time I saw him as the man that I would spend the rest of my life with.” ― Carol Schaffer

Listen to my interview with divorce lawyer Tracey Coates to learn why my personal experience informs the professional work I do with you. I will provide support for you at any stage of divorce and help you improve your communication with your spouse for you and your kids. I'm right here! Listen to the interview at this link: bit.ly/2JBAdsL

Do you have a former spouse that continues to make your life miserable after divorce? Do you feel as though there is way too much interaction and she believes it’s too little? Did you get divorced so you didn’t have to deal with her and now it feels like all you do is hear from her? A parenting coordinator helps get through this communication impasse. It’s true that the stress of prior relationships can weigh heavily on all of us. When you share children, especially young children, interaction will likely happen for many years. Learning to manage the communication is vital to supporting what’s best for your kids and what’s good for you too.

How a Parenting Coordinator HelpsA parenting coordinator helps people figure out how to support their kids and communicate with their former spouse. Often, it’s important to sit down with both people, as parents of the children, to figure out what went wrong and where it can get better. In my practice, I have found four critical tools to success for parents where communication is non-existent to extraordinarily high conflict. You can make it better, for you and your kids, by using these practical tips, either with the help of a Parent Coordinator, or by trying to implement them on your own. My experience suggests the higher the level of conflict the more necessary a parenting coordinator may be, but getting started somewhere is better than having things continue as they have. Give it a try and reach out as needed.

Manage Expectations Around CommunicationsDoes your Divorce Agreement set out how to plan for your children? Is there already a method in place to do so? If so, this is a great “jumping off point” for your communication. Although quoting your Agreement can sound formal and off-putting, it may be time to suggest it. Often, my clients do much better when a structure is in place for their communication. They do better when they have a framework for success.

If you Agreement doesn’t talk about how to plan, you likely need to create some Agreement about how things will go. If things have not gone well, it’s likely important to consider talking with your spouse with a Parenting Coordinator as a professional is likely able to create a framework to help you begin talking productively again. If you can’t do that, it’s likely you will need to meet, in person, or by email to work together on how to manage what needs to be decided. Remember, most adults don’t like to be told what they must do and how they must do it. If you are starting the communication, use words like “cooperate” and “strategize” to create a collaborative environment. Find out, from your ex, what they need to make the plans for your kids work.If often makes sense to build in deadlines around when things are decided, and to build in flexibility too. Sometimes one parents gets first choice, and the next year it shifts to the other parent. Whatever you and your ex decide, make certain there is give and take about how it will occur. This step is about how to approach communication and not the actual plan. However, this step is often most crucial to success. Even if you dislike your ex intensely, you love your children. Figuring out how to negotiate with her is crucial to your success. Instead of spending time thinking it can’t be done, figure out how it can!

Develop A PlanNext, once you’ve opened a chain of positive communication with your Ex about the need to do better, execute on your plan to do so. This is just the beginning so don’t assume just because you want something, and think it’s right, you will get your way. Remember that it wasn’t always easy to convince your intimate partner about parenting issues and it won’t get easier now. However, if you are willing to listen as much as you speak, in email, and give a little to get a little, you and your children may find success. A good plan is the best way to achieve success and prepare for unexpected bumps in the road too.

The most important part of developing a plan is to begin to create a system for decision making that allows you and your ex a voice in what happens. Again, it’s usually fairest to allow taking turns for important holidays or vacation choosing but do what works for you and for your ex too. Remember that BOTH of you need to feel empowered to be good parents to your children and providing that neutral support by creating a framework to allow it will get you much further than making demands.

Also, and this is crucial to planning, try to avoid multiple issue emails and get rid of texting for plans altogether. Limit your communication about an issue to one chain of emails on a particular topic. It’s easy to stay organized this way and to have documentation about what you have agreed to do too. You can easily create folders in your email to save the various threads and they will be a handy referral when you need to check what was said about a particular issue. Keep in mind, too, that email can be an unforgiving medium. Many of my female clients complain their exes are “mean” in email. In some cases, this is true, but in other cases a direct tone, without any softening words, can seem too demanding and stern. You should deal with your ex as you would a business colleague, that is, be direct but also kind. You do not need to express how you personally feel about her, ever, in email to her. Save those words for therapy!

PracticeYou will likely need lots of practice with your ex to create the co-parenting relationship you want for you and your kids. This practice happens when you write emails, get the response you hope for, or don’t get that at all. Each communication is an opportunity to learn what works, in general, and in particular for your spouse.

I worked with one couple who seemed at an impasse to plan the yearly calendar. It turned out the mother was overwhelmed by dad sending an excel spreadsheet with calendar suggestions for the entire year. We talked about breaking down the data contained in the spreadsheet to simple lists and, voila, problem solved. Instead of ignoring the info, mom felt she could manage the same material in bite size monthly nuggets. Dad was thrilled and felt he could then plan for the year. Instead of criticizing mom’s aversion to spreadsheets (which he may have internally done), he acted in a way that served him and his kids to get what he and they needed. Mom is much happier too as she doesn’t feel like she’s ignoring critical information.

Inevitably, disagreements will arise. Using your new style of communication, however, you will remember that you do not need to personally criticize the other parent to make your point. Usually, if something can’t be agreed to after three rounds of email, it makes sense to spend a couple hours of mediation so that a parenting coordinator can help figure out if the matter can be resolved. Doing so may save you lots of time and grief in the future too as a new method of approach may be developed in the process.

Don’t Take It Personally

No matter how carefully you choose your words, you may get some unpleasant communication at least occasionally. Remember that you ex isn’t dealing with you in a vacuum and may be having a bad day, month, year for many other reasons. Responding in kind is likely to only escalate conflict so, if you can, don’t respond at all for a period of time. See if a little time allows cooler heads to prevail. Revisit the issue without personal attack and try to get back on track.​In sum, it is possible to manage a situation with even a horrible ex successfully. The key is your mindset towards success and your willingness not to engage, on the same level, as a co-parent who might bring negative energy and intent to your communications. The simple steps above coupled with the help of a parenting coordinator helps to establish open communications. Remember that you bear half of the responsibility for the way the relationship with your ex is managed, for you and your children. You will never control what they think or even say about you, but you can control how you respond and how you communicate directly. Taking the high road may not always feel satisfying in the moment, but keeping your kids from the conflict, and getting support for yourself will reveal success for you and your kids in the long run. It’s a long road when you are co-parenting with an ex, but your kids are worth it. And so is your peace of mind.

NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2018/PRNewswire/ -- Committed to serving women ages 30 and over, the Worthy Professional Scholarshipencourages women to renew their lives as they embark on new beginnings toward independence. The winners were chosen from more than 600 female applicants ranging in ages from 30 to 55, enrolled in 400 different colleges and universities, pursuing degrees in such fields as education, nursing, theology.

"To have the ability to provide financial support to help women restart after life changing events and assist them as they find new opportunities is at the core of Worthy's mission," said Judy Herbst Director PR. "We are proud to be empowering women and be a positive force in their lives."Amazing women shared their stories. What we learned is many of these women overcame unbelievable obstacles and turned their lives around to better themselves by pursuing careers to help others:

30% wrote about an inspiring woman transforming their outlook, with over half stating their role model being their Mother (33%) and Grandmother (21%). Daughters (10%) encouraged their moms.

26% chose to write about how divorce affected their lives and empowered them to seek further education to be financially independent.

25% wrote about overcoming a health issue that propelled them forward, making them unstoppable to achieve getting their degree.

14% wrote about overcoming a personal domestic violence situation that became the catalyst to advancing their education.

5% wrote about rising above being sexually assaulted and are seeking a career that would help others cope with a similar situation.

Selected by a distinguished panel of judges recognized in their fields for empowering and helping others, the expert panel includes: Erin Levin, Founder & CEO Hello Divorce; Laurie Itkin, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and Author; Cherie Morris, Certified Divorce & Life Transition Coach; and Samantha Gregory, Blogger & Founder of Rich Single Momma. "The Worthy scholarship program is an opportunity for women with life changing experiences to have renewed opportunities and receive a financial reward that helps advance them in their next steps. It was my honor to be a part of the process," states panelist Cherie Morris.

Receiving $2500 first place award is Rachel Carter, lliff School of Theology, Denver CO, pursuing a Masters in Divinity. As a sexual assault survivor, Rachel wrote about understanding the challenges life has unfairly thrown at her and now attending theological school, she can help traumatized people realize they are not alone.

Awarded $1500 is Kimberly Edwards, California State University, Chico CA, pursuing her degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. Overcoming drug abuse, Kim writes about obtaining an education in nutrition in order to teach, motivate, and support women who suffer from addiction and eating disorders.

Awarded $1000 is Dawn McCall, Grand Canyon University, online program, finishing her Masters of Education. As a single mom, Dawn has learned to not dwell on the speed bumps but rather the knowledge she is learning and sharing with her own children and the children in the classroom.

"For the third consecutive year, we are pleased to offer this scholarship program as we continue to help women and assist in their educational growth," says Ben Slor, VP of Marketing. The new Scholarship can be accessed here. Click right here-- Worthy, to find the smart online auction solution for selling your diamond jewelry.

Divorced Exposed Podcast with Debbie DeChambeau: Nesting: What Is it and Is it For You?Featuring Cherie Morris

EPISODE 11 – NESTING: An innovative way to keep your children from having to go back and forth with visitation. Nesting isn’t for everyone, but it’s a concept that we need to explore more and try to figure out ways to make it work. Parents don’t always get along hence they divorce, but that’s not the children’s fault. Why do they have to pack up every other weekend to go visit mom or dad? Why do they have to have their life disrupted because their parents couldn’t figure things out. Could this be one of the reasons why we have so many issues with millennials today. Parents are over compensating for the divorce. It’s complicated, and there isn’t one right or wrong answer, but the parenting issue needs to be at the top of the divorce discussion.Our guest, Cheri Morris, is a divorce coach with Dear Divorce Coach. She’s an attorney who pivoted her career into coaching, based on her own divorce. Nesting is one of the areas she explores with couples as they divorce. DIVORCEThe first time you get divorced, there are a lot of questions, a lot of overwhelm. How you handle it is somewhat influenced by who is initiating the divorce. If it’s you, the emotions might be very different than if it is your spouse who wants the marriage to end. COACH VS. THERAPYIt’s a process, with phases that many of us go through. We can’t see them when we are in the middle of it, but others on the outside that work with divorcing people will tell you that they see many of the same patterns. A coach can help you through this and keep things in check. At the end of the conversation we talk about the difference between a therapist and a divorce coach. Hiring a divorce coach is an added expense to the divorce process, but it can be one that brings a lot of value to the end results as well. It could also save you a lot of money by staying out of court through some practical negotiating strategies. If you are going through a divorce and have children, get them into therapy right away. You might be ok with the divorce, but they need help processing what is going on! Please don’t ignore this important piece, no matter what their age. It’s particularly important for teens and early twenty somethings. That should be something you do before you start processing the paperwork with an attorney! SHARE THE LOVEIf you like what you hear in this podcast, please share it with a friend or family member. The divorce rate is over 50% in the US and a lot of people are thinking about divorce long before they actually take the first step. Knowledge is power and each episode provides value for helping those who are married or contemplating divorce. You can listen to this podcast on the website at DivorceExposed.com or iTunes if you have an iphone, Spotify if you have an account and if you are a droid user, go to your app store, you can download any number of podcast player apps where you will also find the podcast such as Stitcher and Google Play. ​